186 



Weights and Measures [no. 4, new series, 



and ICtlis of 40ths ; or else in 16ths (annas) and 4ths of 16ths. A 

 decimal subdivision is most desirable ; not only is the computation 

 far easier to the surveyors, but records in decimals, are far more in- 

 telligible than in Roods and Perches, and money values in relation 

 to areas more easily calculated. The areas recorded in the Ord- 

 nance Survey of Great Britain, in which Survey every field is mea- 

 sured, are now in acres, and decimals to the third place. There 

 cannot be a better authority for a decimal subdivision, and it offers 

 no difficulty to the Natives, as regards land measurement.*' The 

 cawnie, itself, i3 in several districts in the Madras Presidency, sub- 

 divided into lOOlhs, and in the present re- survey of the Southern 

 Districts of Madras, the decimal subdivision of the acre has been 

 authorised, as stated in para. 11. 



The next subject to be considered is that of Weight ; and 

 this is important, inasmuch as the best method of fixing a standard 

 for measures of Capacity, is with reference to the weight of water 

 they will contain. 



The difficulty connected with determining a standard of Weight 

 for the whole of India, is increased by the fact that there are 

 conflicting interests and opinions on the subject. Some of the 

 best authorities urge that the Ponderary system of India, already 

 in some degree established, should be founded on the Rupee (the 

 tola of 180 grains), as the standard coin of the country, always 

 accessible in cases of doubt or suspicion. Others, there are, who 

 perceive in the increasing trade with Great Britain, the great want 

 of some system by which the Weights and Measures of both coun- 

 tries may be assimilated, and they object to the tola unit, because 

 no number of even tolas will correspond with one, two, three, four, 

 five, six, seven, eight, or ten pounds avoirdupois, the nearest ratio 

 being 350 tolas=91b. ; a most inconvenient proportion. 



* It is hardly necessary to argue why a decimal subdivision of Land Measure, 

 should be easier of introduction than a decimal arrangement of Weights and Mea- 

 sures in general. It is, in practice, a mere division of account. In England not 

 one person in a thousand is the least put out by the substitution of Decimals fox 

 E.oods and Perches: whereas, not one in a thousand but would be inconvenienced 

 (for a time) by the substitution of 10th of Gallons for Pints, or by Ounces of ten to 

 the Pound. 



